Beet-topper



R. J. JOHNSON.'

EET TOPPER.

R. I. JOHNSON.

BEET TOPPER.

APPLICATION 'FILED MAY I0. 1919.

1,327,760. -Pamnted Jan.13,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- ROBERT J. JOHNSON, OF LOGAN, UTAH.

BEET-TOPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

Application filed May 10, 1919. Serial No. 296,121.

The invention further aims to provide a.

beet topping apparatus including means whereby the apparatus may be easily and quickly raised and lowered relative to the frame of the plow. The beet topping apparatus is swingingly suspended from the sides of the plow frame, there being provision made, whereby the topping apparatus is yieldably urged downwardly, so that a lbeet top splitting member and a topping member may act upon the beet tops.

A further aim of the invention is to provide beet top splitting means, and beet topping means, and a carrier (which is swingingly suspended Vfrom the plow frame) therefor, so that when such means are moved downwardly toward and in coperation with the beet tops, the tops may be split and severed, the splitting means being arranged vertically, while the topping means are at right angles to the splitting means, and rearwardly disposed.

As a further object of the invention provision is made for adjusting the beet topping means with relation tothe carrier, so that while the carrier may be disposed, as a general rule, in a uniforml position below the plow frame, the beet topping means may be adjusted slightly with relation tothe beet tops, so that the topping of the beets may be regulated without adjusting the carrier. It is obvious that the beet topping means may be removed without removing the splitting means.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for gaging the depth of the splitting of the beet tops. This is accomplished by means of suitable depth guides adjustably mounted on opposite sides of the splitting means.

While the design and construction at present illustrated and set forth are deemed preferable, it is obvious that as a result of a reduction of the invention to a more practical form for commercial purposes, the invention may be susceptible to changes, and the rightto these changes is claimed, provided they are comprehendedy within the scope of what is claimed. f

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed. j Y In the drawings: j Figure 1 is a .view in side elevation of a plow frame, showing the beet top splitting and topping means as applied thereto. y Fig.' Q) is a, front end View of the appa; ratus. v

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line4-4 of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectionalview on line 5 5 of Fig. 1 'i Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the beet topping member.

Referring more especially to the drawings 1 designates the sidesof a plow frame, and

secured tothe sides as by means of bolts or the like 2 are forward and rear hangers 3 and 4. As shown in the drawings the forward hangers are U-shaped, and their outer armsare bolted to the sides of the plow frame, and their inner arms depend downwardly. The rear hangers areiangular iu cross-section, the outer upstanding arms of which ard bolted to the sides of the plow frame, while the inner arms depend downwardly. The inner arms 5 and 6 of the forward and rear hangers have bolted thereto as shown at 71' and 8 longitudinally arranged bars 9, which, as shown in the plan view, are j in parallelism. Mounted in suitable bearings of the bars 9 are rock shafts l0 and 10a` `having V-shaped depending central portions 11. The lower portions of the V-shaped depending portions are provided with short hori- Zontal parts 12. It is to be noted that when these shafts 10 and 10a, are rocked, their V-shaped depending portions will swing, relative to the bars 9. A carrier 13'isprol vided, which comprises a pair of parallel arranged angle plates 14. -These angle plates have their adjacent vertical flanges spaced, to make provision for a.' beet top splitting member 15 to be positioned between the flanges. A holding plate 16 is provided, there being bolts 17 passing through the plate 16 and the horizontal flanges of the angle plates, thereby securely connecting the angle plates to the plates 16, whereby the beet top splitting member is clamped securely between the angle plates, as shown Lclearly in Fig. 2. The plate 16 is elongated,

and is provided with a plurality of arched portions 18, 19 and 20. The arched portions 18 and 19 are provided for the reception of the short horizontal portions 12 of the V-shaped depending parts 11 of the shafts rod 21 has its forward right angle end 22 mounted in the arched bearing 20, and it is "obvious that by manipulating this rod, the

carriermay'be moved rearwardly. Secured by means of a setscrew 23 to one end` of the shaft 10a is an upstanding arm 24k, which is provided with a plurality of openings 25. A U-shaped strap 26 is employed for con- .necting a coilY spring 27 to the upstanding arm 2-1, there being a bolt 28, adapted to engage any one of the openings 25 of the arm 24. The coil spring 27 at onefend terminates in a hook 29, which engages the U-shaped strap 26. The other end of the coil spring also 4has a hook 30, engaging an eye 31 on the outer face of one of the bars 9. By means of this coil spring 27 it is to be noted that the carrier is yieldingly urged toward the beet tops, whereby the cutting ledge 32 of the beet top splitting member may act upon the beet tops. The beet top splitting member is cut away at its rea-r portion vas shown at 33, in order to malt-e provision for the topping member 34. The portion of thel beet topping member adjacent the cut away portion 33 is provided with vertical slots 35, to receive securing bolts 36. The beet topping member or knife comprises a body 37, the `curved shank or lug of which terminates in a V-shaped blade 38, the cut ting edges 39 of which diverge rearwardly. The blade diverges rearwardly and laterally, so that by means of the diverging edges a shearing action upon the beet tops may be attained. whereby the beet tops may be severed. The forward arm l0 of the body of the beet topping' member receives the bolts 36, and it is obvious that byloosening these bolt-s, the beet topping means or member 60 may be adjusted vertically, vwith relation to the rear part of the top splitting member.

The top splitting member is provided with vertical parallel slots 42, which receive bolts fl-3, by which the angular depth guides A: are secured adjustably with relation vto the beet top splitting member. The horizontal flanges of the depth guides act tov limit the cutting depth of the beet top splitting member. The topping knife owing to its adjustable connection to the member 16 may be regulated whereby the topping of the beets may be regulated with relation to the splitting of the beet tops.

It is to be distinctly understood that while it is set forth in this specification that the thrust and pull rod 21 may be manually manipulated against the action of the tensioning spring 27 for manually controlling the beet top splitting and though not necessarily, it is clearly obvious that this thrust and pull rod is designed primarily for preventing the carrier from swinging too far forwardly. `Aalso it is to be distinctly understood that while the carrier is described as being manually controlled, through the medium'of the rod 21, but not necessarily, it is further obvious that the carrier works automatically for high and low beets, and does not" need to be `manipulated by hand. In other words, the carrier rides upon the surface of the soil and owing to the yieldable means, such as the spring 27, the beet top splitting and topping means may accommodate themselves to the irregularities of the growth of the beets, in order to properly split and top the beets. In further words, it is obvious that this improved devicel can, if so desired, operate both ways, as setforth in this specification. The depth guides act to govern the amount of tops of the beets to be cut, besides governing the depth of the split. The depth guides also prevent cutting too much or too little of the tops of the beets. The carrier rises and lowers vertically on the rocker arms, the carrier remaining in constant parallelism to the frame, the carrier accommodates itself to the irregularities of the growth of the beets. In other words, the carrier remains substantially in a horizontal position at all times relatively to high and low beets, as well as in parallelism to the frame. In order to utilize the rod 21 to prevent the carrier from moving too far forwardly, the frame 1 is provided with a crosspiece a, and the rod 21 has its rear end terminating in a hoolr (l. As illustrated in Fig. 1, thehook Z is in engagement with the crosspiece a, holding the carrier in an intermediate position, preventing the carrier from moving too far forwardly beyond this particular position. It will be seen that as the carrier is traveling over the surface of the soil, thel rear end of the rod 21 will slide relatively to the cr'oss piece a, allowing the carrier to automati-` cally rise and lower according to the irregularities in the growth of the beets. VIt vis obvious that the carrier can rise and lower p itself to the irregularities in the growth of the beets, the depth guides acting automatically to govern the depth of the split `and the amount of the tops of the beets to be cut orsevered.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is:

l. The combination with a frame, of a carrier, means for mounting the carrier on the frame whereby it may lmove toward the beet tops, said carrier comprising angle plates, means for connecting the angle plates, whereby their vertical flanges may be spaced, a beet top splitting member in said space,'and provided with slots, depth guides carried by the splitting member, means passing through said slots for connecting the depth guides to the splitting member, and a beet topping member carried by the rear of the splitting member and at right angles thereto.

2. In an apparatus as set forth, the coinbination with a carrier, of a supporting frame therefory including means whereby the carrier may be swingingly suspended from f comprisingI 'angle the frame, said carrier plates, means for securing the angle plates together and pivotally connected to the swinging suspended means, a beet top splitting element secured between the angle plates and provided with vertical slots at the rear, and means passing through the slots for adjustably connecting the beet topping member to the rear of the splitting element.

'3. In an apparatus as set forth, the combination with a carrier, of a supporting frame therefor including means whereby the carrier may be swingingly suspended from the frame, said carrier comprising angle plates, means for securing the angle plates together and pivotally connected to the swinging suspended means, a beet top splitting element secured between the angle plates and provided vwith vertical slots at the rear, and means passing through the slots for adjustably connecting the beet topping member to the rear of the splitting element, depth guides adjustably mounted on the beet top splitting element to govern the depth of the split, and means for yieldingly urging the carrier toward the beet tops, whereby the splitting element and the topping member may perform their functions.

4. The combination with a frame, of a carrier, rock shafts having depending parts pivotally connected to the carrier, yieldable means connecting between the rock shafts and the frame and coperating between such parts, whereby the carrier automatically rises and lowers, whereby the carrier may accommodate itself to the irregularities of the growth of the beets, and beet top splitting and topping means mounted on the carrier, and means for preventing the car- `rier from moving too 'far forwardly.

5. The combination with a frame, of a carrier, rock shafts having depending parts pivotally connected to the carrier, -yieldable means connecting between the rock shafts and the frame and coperating between such parts, whereby the carrier automatically rises and lowers, whereby the carrier may accommodate itself to the irregularities f of the growth of the beets, beet top splitting and topping means mounted on the carrier, and means for holding the carrierv in different adjusted positions, said last named means while holding the carrier in such positions, adapted to preventl the carrier from moving too far forwardly.

6. The combination with a frame,` of a carrier, rock shafts having depending parts pivotally'connected to the carrier, yieldable means connecting between the rock shafts and the frame and coperating between such parts, whereby the carrier automatically rises and lowers, whereby the carrier may accommodate itself to the irregularities of the growth of the beets, means on the carrier, beet vtopping means adjustably mounted on the carrier to the rear of the splitting means and being adjustably connected toy the carrier, the topping member proper being atri'ght angles to the splitting member proper, and means to prevent the carrier from moving too far forwardly. v Y

7. The combination with a frame, of a carrier, rock shafts having rdepending parts pivotally connected to the carrier, yieldable means connecting betweeny the rock shafts, and the frame and coperating between such parts, whereby the y carrier automatically rises and lowers, wherebythe carrier may accommodate itself to the irregularities of the growth of the beets, means on'the' carrier, beet topping means adjustably mounted on the carrier to the rear of the splitting meansand'being adbeet topy splitting beet top splitting justably connected to the carrier, the topv "sitions, and being adapted, while holding the carrier in such positions, to rier from moving too far forwardly, and depth guides to govern the amount of the tops of beets to be cut and govern the depth of the split and preventing cutting too much or too little ofthe tops from the beet.

8. The combination with a frame, of a carrier, rock shafts having depending arts pivotally connected to the carrier, yiel able means connecting between the rock shafts and the frame and coperatingcbetween such parts, whereby the carrier automatically rises and lowers, whereby the carrier may prevent the caraccommodate itself to the irregularities of i the, growth of the beets,

v the frame, thereby v wardly and downwardly,

yfrom moving too far forwardly, guides mounted on the` carrier the carrier, and `otally connected to carrier, a pair the frame to urge the carrier and beet top splitting1 and topping means mounted on the carrier, and means for preventing the carrier and depth adjustably and designed to govern the amount of tops of the beets to be cut, besides governing the depth of the split and also preventing cutting too much or too little of the .tops kfrom the beets.

9. The combination with a frame, of a carrier, a pair. of drop shafts rockably mounted in bearings of the frame and adapted to oscillate in parallelism, means for pivotally mounting the carrier on the lowerparts of the drop shafts, beet topping and splitting means adjustably mounted on a thrust and pull rod pivthe carrier and having a detachable connection with said frame for preventing` the carrier from moving too far forwardly.

10.7The combination with a frame, of a of drop shafts rockably mounted in bearings on the frame and Aada ted to swino in arallelism means for pivotally mounting the carrier on the lower parts of the drop shafts, whereby the carrier may move at all times in parallelism with the frame, beet topping and splitting means mounted on the carrier, tensioning means connecting between one of the shafts and forwardly and means pivotally connected to the carrier and having detachable connection with the frame, to prevent the carrier from moving too far forwardly and downwardly under the influence of the tensioning means.

1l. The combination with a frame, of a carrier, means swingably suspended from the frame and supporting the carrier, wherebyit may swing at all times in parallelism with the. frame, tensioning means connecting between said swingably mounted means and urging the carrier forbeet topping and splitting means mounted on the carrier, and a thrust and pull rod pivotally connected to the carrier and having a detachable connecdownwardly,

VKtion with the frame, to prevent the carrier topping and splitting means on the carrier, v

a thrust and pull rod pivotally connected to the carrier and having a hook engaging a part of the frame to prevent the carrier from moving too far forwardly and downwardly under the influence of the spring.

13. The combination with a frame, of a carrier comprising angle plates, meansv for connecting the angle plates, kwhereby, their vertical flanges may be spaced, a beet top vsplitting' member in said space, means for swingingly mounting saidl carrier onY the frame, and a thrust and pull rod .pivotally connected to the carrier and having detach able connection with the frame to prevent the carrier from moving too far forwardly and downwardly.

14:. The combination with a frame, of a carrier comprising angle plates, means for connecting the plates, whereby their vertical flanges may be spaced, a beet top splitting member in said space and provided with adjustable depth guides, means for swingingly mounting the carrier on the frame, tension ing means connecting the frame and the swingingly mounted means forkurging the carrier forwardly and downwardly, and a device pivotally connected to the carrier and rovided with a detachable connection with the frame for preventing the carrier from moving too far forwardly and downwardly under the influence of the tensioning means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two.. witnesses.

WM. Mon'riMnR, H. B. PARKS. 

